Apparatus for making ornamental articles



July 8, 1941. D. J. KELMAN APPARATUS FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL lJTICLESy s sheets-smet 1 Filed Aug. 1.8, 1939 July 8, 1941. D. J. KELMAN APPARATUS FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES y 3 Sheets-Shee't 2 Filed Aug'. 18. 193)4 E A RNEY July 8, 1941. D. J.' KELMAN APPARATUS FOR MAKING O'RNAMENTAL ARTICLES s sheets-sheet s' Filed Aug.. 18, 1939 Patented July 8, 1941 APPARATUS FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL ARTrCLEs v David J. Kelman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1939, Serial No. 290,734

21 Claims.

This invention relates generally tc decorativev ornaments. It is particularly directed to the provision of apparatus for makingdecorative ornaments of the shirred, convoluted type.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which shall be rugged in construction, easy to operate, comparatively inexpensive and practical to a high degree.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of the character described, novel means for feeding a strip and a pair of core members whereby the strip will become automatically shirred before the twisting operation.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the `features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

Certain features shown and described but not claimed in this application are shown, described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 192,772, led February 26, 1938, 'for Ornamental articles and method of making same, of which the present application is a continuationin-part, including subject matter divided from said co-pending application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional vview taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly sectional, of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a different portion in section;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified form of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. '7 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. -9 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a finished shirred, convoluted, decorative article produced by use of my novel apparatus;

Fig. 1l is a View illustrating an article similar toy Fig. 1o but having a greater degree of 'axial twisting; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken Substantially on the line I 2--12 of Fig. 11.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated apparatus constructed'in accordance f5 with this invention for the production of convoluted ornaments of the type shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 and comprising'a shirred strip of exible material having continuous unbroken edges and twisted between iiexible'core members.

10 In Figs. 1 to- 5 there is illustrated one form of apparatus embodying this invention. The said apparatus comprises a table 2U mounted on legs 2|. A roll 22 of flexible material such as paper or Cellophane may be rotatably mounted in a :l5 bracket 23 attached to one end of said table 2G.

For easy insertion and removal of the roll of paper, upwardly and rearwardly inclined aligned slots 24 are'provided inthe opposed side walls 25 of the bracket 23. Said slots slidably receive a shaft 26 upon which the roll 22 is wound. If desired, a

drag or tension may be imparted to the material as it unwinds from the roll 22 in the form of a strip 21 by any suitable tensioning means such as the brake illustrated in Fig. 1. Said brake may 25 comprise a brake strip 2B pivotally mounted at one end to a table leg 2| and having itsfree end pressed against the circumference of the roll 22 by a spring 29 tensioned between the brake strip 28 and the bracket 23.

30 A pair of core strands 35 and 36, preferably made of such material as wire, cord or the like are fed from spools 30 and 3| rotatably mounted on shafts 32 and 33 which in turn are mounted' on the table 20. Springs 31 may be disposed under manually adjustable compression'between one end of the spools 30 and 3| and nuts 38 threadedly received on the shafts 32 and 33 to brake theunwinding of said spools and maintain the core members 35 and 36 under tension.

.4o The core members unwound Afrom the spools 3|) and 3| are led through a pair of spaced eyes 39 and 4|) and then between a pair of suitably mounted adjustable tension feed rollers 4| and 42. The latter have circumferential grooves 41a and 45 42a, respectively, which are made sufficiently deep and the path of travel of the strip 21 of flexible material from its roll 22 to the feed rollers 4| and 42, as to provide a space between the core members 35 and 36. This permitsv the positioning of said strip 21 between said core members in such manner that one core member, such as 35,

is adjacent one side of said strip 21 while the other core member, 36, is on the opposite side of said strip, as the latter and the core members are passed between the rollers 4| and 42.

The rollers 4| and 42 may be mounted between a pair of posts 43 disposed on opposite sides of the table 2D and extending above and below the same. A shaft 44 journalled in said posts 43 carries the lower or driving roller 4| for rotation therewith. The roller 4| may be belt driven through a step pulley 44a on one projecting end of the shaft 44. The upper or idling feed roller 42 is carried on a shaft 45 having its opposite ends journalled in bearing blocks 45a. slidably mounted in vertical slots 46 at the upper ends of the posts 43. The tension between the rolls 4| and 42 may be varied by compression springs 41 between the upper surface of the bearing blocks 45 and a disc 48 at the lower end of adjusting nuts 49.

Means is provided for causing the core members 35 and 36 to unwind from the spools 30 and 3| and pass betweenthe rollers 4| and 42. Such means may comprise an elongated threaded shaft 58 having akeyway 5|, and journalled in fixed brackets 52. Fixedly supported in said brackets 52 is a pair of rod members 53 disposed'at spaced distances from and parallel to the shaft 50. A Spinner frame 54V supported on the'shaft 5|] and rods 53 is adapted to slidably engage said rods 53 in the circular bearing 55 and arcuate bearing 56. Said spinner frame 54 is also provided with a threaded bore 56a into which the correspondingly threaded shaft 50 is inserted. Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 50, the spinner frame 54 will be caused to move due to the threaded bore 58a and will slide freely on the shafts 53. Any suitable means such as a step pulley 51 at one end of the threaded shaft 56 may be employed for rotating the latter. Rotatably mounted on the spinner frame 54 is a spinner shaft 58 to which the ends of the core members 35 and 36 are xedly attached.

Means is provided for twisting the core members 35 and 36 as they emerge through the rollers 4| and 42 so that the strip of material 21 which is simultaneously fed between said core members may be also twisted therebetween to form a convoluted ornament of the type shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. This may comprise, fork example, a separate pulley member 59 journalled in the spinner frame 54 and provided with a hub portion 60 and freely received on the threaded shaft 50. The pulley hub 60 is also provided with a key 6| permanently xed thereto and adapted to ride in the keyway 5| of the shaft 58. Mounted on the spinner shaft 58 for rotation therewith is a pulley 62. The pulley 59 drives the pulley 62 by means of an interconnecting belt 63.

Any suitable well known means (not shown) may be employed to rotate a power shaft 64 having a pair of pulleys 65 and 66 mounted thereon. The pulley 65 is connected to the stepped pulley 44a, and the pulley 66 to the stepped pulley 51 by belts 61 and 68, respectively.

In setting up the apparatus preparatory to making a shirred and convoluted ornament, the strip of material 21 is passed between the rollers 4| and 42. Each core member 35 and 36 is to feed the strip of material 21 toward the spinner shaft 58 at a relatively high speed. At the same time the shaft 50 will be rotated by the stepped pulley 51, pulley 66 and belt 68, thus causing the spinner frame 54 to retract from the tension rollers 4| and 42 at a relatively low speed compared to the rate of feed of the strip 21 and pull the core members 35 and 36 between the said rollers 4| and 42, through the grooves 4 la and 42a, independently of the roller speed. When the shaft 50 is rotated so as to retract the spinner frame 54, the pulley 59 will be caused to rotate with said shaft 50 because the key 6| is engaged in the keyway 5| and at the same time is free to slidably move along the shaft 50 with the spinner 1 Therefore, as the spinner frame 54 is being slidthreaded through its eye 39, 48 and then through the grooves 4 la and 42a so that the core members F the tension feed rollers 4| and 42 will be actuated ably moved away from the feed rollers 4| and 42 to exert a pulling force on the core members 35 and 36, the latter will at the same time be axially twisted due to the rotation of the pulley 62 and spinner shaft 58.

It will thus be seen that the strip 21 is fed by the tension rollers 4| and 42 between the core members 35 and 36; and that immediately said vstrip 21 emerges from said rollers 4| and 42, it

is shirred against the point of convergence C (Fig. 2) or end of the twisted portion of the core members 35 and 36 adjacent the rollers 4| and 42 due to the relatively high speed of feed of said strip as aforesaid, and is twisted between the said core members to form a shirred and convoluted ornament in the nature of that shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

If desired, the rollers 4| and 42 may be corrugated on opposite sides of the grooves 4|a and 42 so that the strip 21 will be corrugated or crimped as it passes between the rollers. V

According to the materials used for the strip 21 and the core members 35 and 36 and the degree of shirring and twisting desired, changes may be made in the relative speeds of feeding the strip 21, retracting the spinner frame 54 and rotating the spinner shaft 58. Thus, the speed of strip lfeed may be altered by shifting the belt 61 on the stepped pulley 44a; the speed of rotation of the spinner shaft 58 may be altered by using pulleys 62 of different diameters; and the speed of retraction of the spinner frame 54 and of rotation of the spinner shaft 58 may both be changed by shifting the belt 68 on the stepped pulley 51. Fig. l1 illustrates the result of a substantial increase in the speed of rotation of the spinner shaft 58 over that employed to make an ornament such as shown in Fig. 10.

Referring now to Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9, a modified form of apparatus embodying my invention is illustrated wherein a different type of retracting spinner mechanism is employed. Said modication comprises a platform 10 having at one end thereof a group of standards 1| and table 12 for supporting the core spools 30 and 3|, the roll 22 of flexible material, the eyes 39 and 46 and the tension feed rollers 4| and 42, all like those shown in and described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Suitable means are provided for maintaining the strip 21 of flexible material in a fixed path after it is unwound from the roll 22. For this purpose, I mount a freely rotatable roller 13 between the standards 1| adjacent the roll 22 so that as the diameter of the roll 22 decreases, the path of the strip 21 over the table 12 will not be angularly changed. To prevent lateral displacement of the Strip 2l relative to the rollers 4| and 42, I employ y80 and '85.

a rod 14 having a pair of collars 15 adjustably mounted thereon and spaced apart a distance slightly above the horizontal plane between the ,rollers'lll and 42 to steady .the strip 21 before it is fed into said rollers.

In this modification, other means is shown than that shown and described in. connection with Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, for causing the core members 35 and 36Y to be unwound from their spools 30 and 3| and passed between the rollers 4| and 42. Such Vmeans may comprise a cable power transmission system including a driving cable 16 attached to a spinner frame 11. The cable 16 may pass over a power pulley 18 and idler pulley 19 disposed at ropposite ends of the platform 10. The spinner frame 11 may be slidably supported on `a pair of cables 80 and 8| strung between standards .1| and 82. Turnbuckles 83 may also be provided for tighteningsaid supporting cables One of said pulleys 18 and 19, as for example the idler pulley 19, may be adjustably mounted so as to take up any slack in the driving cable 16. Journalled in the spinner frame 11 is a spinner shaft 84 having a hook 85 to which the ends of the core members 35 and 36 are xedly attached.

Means including another cable power transmission system is provided for twisting the core members 35 and 36 as they emerge through the rollers 4| and 42. Such means may comprise an endless cable 86 which passes over a stepped spinner pulley 81 mounted on the spinner shaft 84. The pulley system over which said cable 86 passes` may include the stepped power pulley 83, idler pulley 89 mounted on the standards 1|, idler pulleys`90 and 9| mountedon the spinner frame 11, stepped spinner pulley 81, idler pulley 92 mounted on the standards 82 and spring mounted belt take up pulley 93.

Power may be supplied to the apparatus by a motor 94 mounted on the platform 10 and adapted to actuate drive shaft 64 through a series of speed reducing pulleys 95, 96, B1 and 98 interconnected by cables 99 and |00. From drive shaft 64 power may be suitably transmitted to the various cable transmission systems and tension feed rollers 4| and 42. For this purpose,

there are provided three drive pulleys 65, 88 and |02, (see Fig. 8) mounted on said shaft 64 and adapted torespectively actuate the cable 61 and the step pulley 44a. which drives the lower tension feed roller 4|, the endless cable 86 and stepped spinner pulley 81 which twists'the core members 35 and 36, and the power pulley 18 in the cable transmission systems for drawing the core members 35 and 36 through the rollers 4| and 42. Said power pulley 18 is actuated from its drive shaftpulley |02 through a series of speed reducing pulleys |04, |05 and |06 interconnected by cables |01 and |08, so that the speed at which the spinner frame 11 and core members 35 and 36 are retracted from the rollers 4| and 42 is considerably less than the speed at which the rollers 4| and 42 and then twisted by the retracting rotating spinner hook 85 causing the formation of a core of constantly increasing length after twistingly converging at a point C (Fig. 9) beyond the rollers 4| and 42. lThe annular grooves 4|a and 42a allow the core members 35 and 36 to pass freely between the rollersv4| and 42 and prevent twisting of said core members until they have passed therethrough. The strip 21 is fed by the tension rollers 4| and 42 between the core members 35 and 36 against said point of convergence C at a rate of speed greater than that at which' the core members are retracted from the rollers 4| and 42, thus causing said strip 21 to be shirred against the point of convergence C between the core members 35 and 36. Said strip 21 is then axially twisted between said core members 35 and 36 as hereinabove described, to form a shirred, convoluted ornament.

The speed of strip 21 feed may be altered by shifting the belt 61 on the stepped pulley 44a.; the speed of rotation of the spinner shaft 84 may be altered by shifting the belt 86 on the stepped pulley 81 or on the stepped pulley 88; and the speed of retraction of the spinner frame 11 may be altered without material alteration in the speed of rotation of the spinner shaft 84 by changing the diameter of any one of the pulleys |02, |04, |05 or |06 in the reducing train.

It will thus be see that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of means for supporting said core strands in spaced relationship to each other, means for progressivelyY altering the angular relationship of a portion of said core strands, leaving a portion thereof unaltered, and means for feeding said strip between the said unaltered portion of said core strands and against the altered portion of said core strands.

2. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from strip of material 2'1 is fed between the rollers 4| and 42 and is also less than the speed at which the endless cable 86 moves.

In the operation of this form of my invention, the strip 21 of flexible material is pulled by the tension feed rollers 4| and 42 from the roll 22 over the positioning roller 13 and through the guide and steadying rod 14 and collars 15.

The core members 35 and 36, disposed on opposite ,sides of the vstrip 21, are pulled through said a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of means for feeding said core strands from a source of supply, means for feeding said flat strip between said strands at a greater speed than the speed Aat which said core strands are fed, and meansfor progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of means for feeding said flat strip, means associated with said last named means for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, means for moving said core strands relatively to said strip feeding means, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

4. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a at strip of exible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges, and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of means for feeding said fiat strip, means associated with said last named means for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, means for moving said core strands relatively to said strip feeding means, and at a lesser speed than the speed at which said strip is fed, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

5. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between; a pair of core strands, the combination of rollers adapted to feed said strip therebetween, means for causing said core strands to pass freely between said rollers on opposite sides of said strip, said core strands being movable relatively to said rollers, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

6. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of a pair of rollers adapted to feed said strip therebetween, circumferential grooves in said rollers for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, means for moving said core strands relatively to said rollers, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

7. In an apparatus for manufacturing convo- Yluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of exible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of a pair of rollers adapted to feed said strip therebetween, circumferential grooves in said rollers for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, means for moving said core strands relatievly to angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween, and means for varying the ratio of the speed of strip feed to the speed of core strand movement.

8. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges, and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of a pair of rollers adapted to feed said strip therebetween, means comprising circumferential grooves in said rollers for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, means for moving said core strands at a different rate of speed from that of said rollers, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

9. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a plurality of core said core strands to a point of convergence, sepstrands, the combination of means for feeding arate strip feeding means for pressing said strip between said strands against said point of convergence, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said core strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

10. In an apparatus lfor manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a fiat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein strands, the combination of a pair of rollers said strip is twisted between a pair of core adapted to feed said strip therebetween, means comprising circumferential grooves in said rollers for positioning said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, a movable frame, said strands being fixed to said frame for movement therewith, a shaft journalled in said frame, means to move said frame relative to said rollers, and means associated with said last named means to rotate said shaft to thereby cause progressive alteration said rollers, means for progressively altering the of the angular relationship of said core strands.

11. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a fiat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of means feeding said core strands from independent sources of supply to a point of convergence, separate strip feeding means for pressing said strip against said point of convergence, the rate of speed of said strip feed being greater than the rate of speed of the feed of said strands to thereby cause the end of said strip to be forced against said point' of convergence to cause shirring of the strip portion adjacent to said point of convergence, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands with said shirred strip portion therebetween.

12. In an apparatus for manufacturing convoluted shirred ornaments of the type described from a nat strip of flexible material having continuous unbroken longitudinal edges and wherein said strip is twisted between a pair of core strands, the combination of a source of supply for said core strands, means to tension said core strands issuing from said source of supply, a source of supply for said strip, means to tension said strip issuing from said last named source of supply, a pair of rollers adapted to feed said strip therebetween, means adjacent said rollers to steady said strip and position the same relative to said rollers, means comprising circumferential grooves in said rollers for positioning .said core strands on opposite sides of said strip, a

core strands to a point of convergence, and; strip feeding means for pressing said strip against said point of convergence.

14. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for bringing a pair of core strands to a point of convergence, and strip feeding means for pressing said strip against said point of convergence, said point of convergence being spaced a short distance from said strip feeding means.

15. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a fiat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for bringing said core strands from independent sources of supply to a point of convergence, and strip feeding means for pressing said strip against said point of convergence, the rate of speed of said strip feed being greater than the rate of speed of the feeding of said strands.

16. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a fiat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for bringing said core strands from independent sources of supply to a point of convergence, and a pair of strip feeding rollers for pressing said strip against said point of convergence.

17. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for bringing a pair of core strands to a point of convergence, strip feeding means for pressing said strips against said point of convergence, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

18. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for feeding a pair of core strands, means for feeding and shirring salici strip between said strands, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

19. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a at strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for feeding a pair of core strands, means for shirring said ilat strip, means for feeding said shirred strip between said strands, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands with said strip positioned therebetween.

20. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip 'of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a plurality of core strands, the combination of means for disposing said strands in spaced proximity, means for shirring said strip, means for disposing said strip between said strands, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands in the region occupied by said strip.

2l. In an apparatus for manufacturing shirred ornaments of the type described from a flat strip of flexible material and wherein said strip is convoluted between a pluralityof core strands, the combination of means for causing said strands to converge to a point, means for shirring said at strip, means for feeding said shirred strip between said core strands towards said point of convergence, and means for progressively altering the angular relationship of said strands in the region occupied by said strip.

DAVID J. KELMAN.

CERTI FICATE OF CORBECTI ON Patent No. 2,243,572. July 8, 19M.

DAVID J. KELMAN.

It is hereby eertified'tlflaty error appears in the printed specification I of the above `numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page il, second column, line C), claim 9, strike out the words "strands, the combination nof means for feeding" vand insert the same after "core" in line?, same claim;

f' line 20, claim lO, strike out the words "said strip is twisted betweenapair of core" and insert the same after "wherein" in linel8,vsame Claim; line. 66, claim l2, for "thereto means for rota-tion therewith" read --thereto for IOGation therewith, means; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the Case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of December, A. D. 19H1.

' Henry van Arsenale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

